Fluid pump



J. LIMING, JR

April 25, 1933.

FLUID PUMP Original Filed Feb; 19. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l filo fliz arne ya [wavy/ or J. LIMING, JR

FLUID PUMP Original Filed Feb; 19, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 John/L b W April 25, 1933.

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FLUID PUMP Original Filed Feb. 19. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4: ii ii u H H H I l l l Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN LIMING, JR, OF PHIIiADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA FLUID PUMP Original application filed February 19, 1925, Serial No. 10,272. Divided and this application filed December 6, 1928. Serial No. 324,153. r

This invention relates to pumping apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for pumping oil wells.

The principal object of the invention 1s to provide a pump of simple constructlon and operation which will be entirely pract'cable for pumping wells of great depth under conditions met in oil Wells.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide novel, efiic ient and thoroughly practical means for suspending the pipe lines in the well.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the pump mechanism and associated elements, thereby creating a material saving not only in cost of manufacture, but also in the operation costs.

' including the gas or air-compressing mecha-- The invention further contemplates a novel and advantageous arrangement of parts for utilizing, at least in part, pressure created for one evacuating operation in a succeeding evacuating operation.

- This case is a division of my application for patent filed Feb. 19, 1925, Serial No. 10,272 and issued as Patent No. 1,770,317.

The invention v:turther resides in certain novel and important details of construction nism as hereinafter described and as illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view showing partly in side elevation and partly in section a pump made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33, Fi .2'

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transversesection on the line 66, Fig. 3; 1

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7, Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a well showing an installation of my apparatus;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating a detail of the pipe suspension means;

Fig 10 is a section on the line 10+10, Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is a. diagrammatic view of the compressor mechanism and adjacent piping illustrating a modification within the scope of the invention.

-VVith reference to the drawin s, a well to which my apparatus'is applica le may be drilled in the usual manner and provided with the usual casing 1.

My apparatus in its preferred form comprises two pressure ducts 2 and 3 which extend throu h a discharge duct 4 of sufiicient size to hold the pressure ducts 2 and 3, and to afford also ample space for a liquid to flow therethrough. In' operation the ducts, at least in part, take an upright position with their ends submerged in the llquid to be transferred, as illustrated in the drawmgs.

As clearly illustrated, both the duct 4 and each of the ducts 2 and 3 have their lower submerged end sections 5, 6 and 7, respectively, enlarged, and the section 5 of the duct 4 carries at its lower end a valve casing 8 with which, as shown in Fig. 3, the pipes 2 and 3 also connect. The ducts 2 and 3 may be threaded or otherwise secured in the upper ends of passages 9 and 10, respectively, in the casing 8, both of which passages extend completely through the casing from top to bottom, and the lower end of each of these passages communicates, in the present instance through pipes 11 and 12, with independent valve casings 13 and 14 reiszpectively, the latter being suspended rough the said pipes 11 and 12 from the casing 8. The casings 13 and 14 are identi cal and lie one beneath the other, and a-passage 15 is provided through the casing 13. for passage of the pipe 12 which. communicates with the casing 14.

Since the casings 13 and 14, except in an unimportant detail, are identical, it is necessary to describe but one, and it will be understood that the reference numerals apply equally to the elements of both of these parts. As shown in Fig. 1, the casings 13 and 14 may be secured together and braced by a stud or other means.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 7, the pipe 11 enters a cylindrical channel or chamber 16 extending inwardly from the top of the casing 13 and communicating with a similarly formed cylindrical chamber 17 extending inwardly from the bottom of the casing 13, the chamber 17 being counterbored at its lower end, as indicated ,at 18,- for reception of a' valve seat 19,wh-ich latter is ma'intained in position by means of a sleeve 20 threaded 1nto said counterbore. vThe valve seat 19 in conjunction with 'a ball element 21'forms a check valve which operates in obvious manner to control the passage to the pipe 11 7 through the chambers 16 and 1 7. Although considerable modification-without departure from'the essential characteristics of this part Of the app ratus. 7 j

As previouslystated, the valve casing 14 :i s-in all respe'cts similar to the casing 13,

with the exception that it does not include a the passage 15 for the pipe 12, thisbeing 1 valve balls'33 and 34 are obviously unnecessary.

9 and :10 comprises also-chambers 22 and 23,-

said chambers being generally cylindrical in form and extending from the-bottom of'the counterbore 24 at the top'of the casing, into which, in the present instance, the pipe 5 is threaded, completely through the casing to the bottom. 'Each of the chambers 22 and 23 is provided intermediate thetop and bottom with an inner annular projection, 25 and 26 respectively, which form an abutment for" a valve seating sleeve 27,.which' sleeve is supported in place againstthe under side.

of the. projection by means of'a follower sleeve 28 threaded into the lower end of each Eachof the sleeves 28 also is provided with an inward of the respective passages.

annular projection 29, similar to the-projection 25, which forms an abutment on its under side for a valve seating sleeve 30.

' Each of the chambers 22 and23 is'provided with valve balls 31 and 32 respective-- ly which seat upon the said sleeves 27, while provided, in the lower parts of the chambers 22 and 23 respectively,'which find a seat on-the lower ends of the sleeves 30,-the balls 33 and 34 being normally held upon their respective seats by springs 35 which seat upon spring retaining sleeves 36 threaded intothe bottoms of the sleeves 28. v

In order to prevent displacement of the balls 31 and-32. from the chambers22'and 23, a keeper plate 37 is secured, by 'means of a screw 38 in the present instance, at the bottom of the said counterbore 24, this keeper plate, as well shown in Figs. 2 and referred to form the valve chambers I vided for passage of oil through the chamber.

shown in Figs. and 5, the passages 9 and 10 communicate:respectively with the chambers 23 and 22 "through ports 40 and 41, said ports entering the passages 9 and 10 at a point intermediate the top and bottom and entering the chambers 22 and 23 at a point intermediate the valves 31 and 33 in the chamber 22, and 32 and 34 in the chamber 23. Through the ports 40 and 41 it will be apparent that the'ducts 2 and 3 find communication through the chambers 22 and.

23-with the lower end of the ducts 4, this:

communication being controlled by the valves 31 and 32 which permit a passage of fluid from the-ducts 2 and 3 .into the duct 4, while preventing-a reverse movement of said fluid. Also, the valves 21 in the casings 13 and 14 permit passage of the fluid in which they are submerged into the ducts-2 and 3, while preventing a reverse flow from the I 1 said pipes into the well. 'The casing 8 in addition to the passages theducts' 2 and 3-back irfto the surround- Provision is madefor discharging from ing body of liquid through the lower ends of the passages 22 and-23 which,are con trolled by the valves 33 and 34. The springpressed valves 33 and 34,however, normalbe considerable variation without departure from the invention.

Assuming, now, no pressure applied to either of the ducts 2 and 3, it will be apparcut that with the .lower ends. of the ducts with the associated valve casings immersed in the oil or other "liquid, the liquid will enter the ducts 2 and 3 through the check valves 21 at the bottoms of these ducts, and will rise in these ducts and also in the duct 4 through the ports 40, 41, and valves 31, 32, to the normal level of the liquid body. 'If

,now pressure be applied to the ducts 2 and 3 from above, it will be apparent-that the liquid in the ducts 6 and 7 will be forced throughthe ports 40 and 41 and through the valves 31 and 32 into the duct 4, the oil close the lower ends of the passages 22 and 23,- and thesprings 35 are made .to exert .springs 35 are adjusted to a pressure suchthat the normal pressures of the dischar e valves 31 and 3 2 permit free flowiupwardlyinto the duct4. As previously'stated,,the

operations, as described, will not unseat tie valves 33 and 34. \Vhen pressure is relieved from the ducts 2 and 3, it will be apparent that liquid once again will pass through the valves 21, into the ducts 2 and 3. Instead of operating the lines 2 and 3 Si.-

multaneously, it is preferred, for reasons ,sustain the extremely long lines of pipe reiquired for some oil well operations.

.pipes employed for theducts 2 and 3, however, are necessarily of comparatively small size and reipiire some means of support to hug and rupture. Such means prevent buc I have illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. In this device, I provide a plate 43'o'f sufficientwidth to accommodate openings for the pipes 2 and 3, and for wedges 44, entered fromabove between the edgesof the openings and the pipes by means'of which the pipes 2 and 3 may be secured in the openings. .The plates 43 are .not, however, of

the pipe 4, and the plates are further rounded at their ends so as to accommodate themselves to the'shape of the pipe which they occupy.

As shown in Fig. 9, the plates are sufficiently longto extend completely across the interior of the pipe 4 and to overlie the in ner edge of the pipe. The ends of the plate 43 may then be secured between the ends of the adjacent sections of the pipe line 4, as well shown in the drawings, theusual coupling members 45 being employed to secure the ends of the sections of the pipe '4 together. By this means the ducts 2 and 3 may be supported at suitable intervals within the duct 4, and will be maintained in proper adjusted position within the said duct. The pipe lines may be' assembled by simultaneously building up the lines 2, 3 and 4, applyingthe new top sections of the lines 2 and 3 prior to the corresponding sections of the line 4 so that the supporting}v devices 43 may be properly applied.

The duct 4 may be suspended in any suitable manner, and I have illustrated in Fig. 1 one means for'obtaining this suspension, which consists of a flange 46 threaded on the outside of the pipe 4 which is of suilicient diameter to completely cover the topof the well easing 1. The latter may be pro- The well from running wild, as will be recognized by those familiar with oil well opera tions.

It is also desirable, and I have provided means,'to close oif the top of the upper end of the duct 4, a cap 49 being provided in the present instance which is bolted or otherwise secured at the top of the duct, provision being made in the cap 49 for passage of the piping 2 and 3.

The operation of the apparatus insofar described possesses many important advan tages over apparatus of a like nature developed prior to my invention. A material advantage is obtained in the use of the outer duct 4 which constitutes not only a casing andja support for the pressure ducts 2 and 3, but also provides a simple and, extremely practical means'for suspending the entire piping 1n the, well. The use of this construc t'ion also prov des for complete well control as described above.

My pumping apparatus further comprises novel and advantageous means for apply-' ing pressure to the ducts 2 and 3. Aspreviously set forth, it is desirable to alternate pressure in the ducts so that one maybe sufficient width to block the passage through" filling while the other; is emptying, thereby obtaining a continuous flow and materially increasing the output of the well over single sure utilizedfor evacuating the lines may be successively employed, thereby materially reducing the power required for operation.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, my compressor,

comprises two double cylinders 50-51 and I 52-53. In the cylinders 50 and 51, which are in axial alignment, a double piston 54 operates, this piston being actuated through the usual piston rod 55 from the crank shaft 56 of the compressor. Similarly fthe'cylinders 52-53 are provided with'a compound piston 57 operated from the crank shaft 56 through a piston rod 58'. The cranks 59 and 60, to which the rods 55 and 58 are respectively connected, preferably are separated 180 sothat as the piston 54 is moving downwardly, for example, on its intake stroke, the piston v57 is moving upwardly in its compression stroke.

In order to obtain the desired two stage effect, I connect the discharge port of the cylinder 52 through a duct 52a with the intake port of the cylinder 51, the discharge port of the cylinder 50 being similarly connected through a duct 50a with the intake valves 62 and 63 are adapted to be operated together so that as one closes the other opens, and by means of these valves, operated simultaneously, the, cylinders 51 and 53 of the compressor are, in the present instance, alternately connected with the pipe lines 2 and 3. The intake and discharge ports of each of the cylinders are provided with the usual check valves preventingv a reverse flow through these ports, as indicated in the drawings.

Since automatic operation of the appara tus is desirable, I provide, in the present instance, a solenoid 6-l including a plunger 65 having operative connection at opposite ends with the valve levers 66 and 67 of the valves 62 and 63 respectively. ,The opposite ends of the solenoid coil may both be connected with one side 68 of an electric circuit including a generator 69, which latter may be actuated from the same source of power employed to operate the compressor, and which in the present instance is shown operated directly from the fiy wheel of the compressor.

The other side 68a of this circuit may e2;- tend to a tap at the center of the solenoid coil, as indicated at 70.

The electrical connection between the respective ends of the coil and the conductor 68 are controlled in each instance by a pressure controlled switch, 71 and 72 respectively, and these switches are operatively connected to the ducts 2 and 3 respectively through suitable ducts 73 and 74. The arrangement is such that when pressure in the lines 2 and 3 has reached a certain predetermined amount, the switches are actuated to close their respective: circuits, the circuits being automatically opened when the pressure drops below the aforesaid predetermined amount.

As hereinafter described, the switches 71 and 72 are closed alternately, and it will be noted that with the closing of one switch and the opening of the other, the direction of the current through the solenoid is reversed, with a consequent intermittent reciprocation of the plunger 65, which on the respective strokes closes one of the valves 6263 and opens the other. This portion of the apparatus is completed by a safety valve 75, placed in the lines intermediate the valves 62-63 and the compressor cylinders, and the provision of valved auxiliary intakes 767 7 in the pipe lines 2 and 3 providing for. the automatic replenishn'ient of the actuating fluid in the pipe lines when such is made necessary by leakage and other losses.

The pressure-actuated switches 71 and 72 may be in the form of the well known pressure gage, the pointers 78 constituting movable electrical contacts or switch blades which at a given pressure meet fixed contacts 79 and thereby close the circuits.

Let it be assumed that in the position in which the levers 66 and 67 are shown in Fig. 1, the valve 62 is open and the valve 63 closed. Under these circumstances, the cylinders 52 and 51 are operating to build up pressure in the duct 3 and to reduce pressure in the duct 2. As the pressure reduces in the duct 2, liquid is permitted to enter that duct as previously described, and the pressure building up in duct 3 is forcing the liquid from that duct up through the pipe 4 to discharge." lVhen the pressure in the duct 3 reaches a predetermined point, the pointer 78 of the gage 72 has swung over to the point where it meets the contact point 79, thereby closing the solenoid circuit and causing a movement of the plunger 65 to the right, which closes the valve 62 and opens the valve 63. The pressure previously built up in'the duct 3 is now relieved through the cylinders 54 and 53, the flow through these cylinders being free and uninfluenced by the istons, the compressed fluid passing throng the open valve 63 into the duct 2 which now holds liquid in its lower immersed section. The initial action therefore upon the opening of one valve and the closing of another is an automatic equalization of pressures in the two ducts. Following equalization, the pistons in the cylinders 50 and 53 start to compress the fluid in the system in the duct 2, at the same time evacuating the duct 3.

The pointer 78 of gage 72 after having come into contact with the contact 79, as previously set forth, was immediately thereafter released by the ensuing pressure drop in the duct 3, and as the line 3 is evacuated by the action of the cylinders 54 and 53, this pointer 78 continues to move away from the contact 79, while the pointer 78 of the gage 71 is moving toward the contact point 79 by reason of the increasing pressure in duct 2. When the duct 2 has been evacuated of its contained liquid, the pressure reaches the point where the pointer of gage 71 meets the contact 79, with the result that current flows into the solenoid in such direction that the plunger 65 is moved to the left to the position shown in the drawings, and the cycle is repeated.

It will be noted that as one set of cylinders is operating to build up pressure in the ducts, the other set is idling, and this is permitted by the by-pass provided in each instance between intake and-exhaust Thus,

zcomp'ressors,a'pa-irof pressure ducts respectively connected to the intakes of said compressors, ducts connecting each of said if the cylinders 5251 are working, the intake and discharge ports of the cylinders 5053 are bypassed through the pipe 61, connected with the exhaust of cylinder 53, the valve 62, and the end' of the duct 3 which connects with the intake of the cylinder 50. A further advantageous feature is the cooling effect on the cylinders of the compressed fluid which rushes therethrough during the aforedescribed equalizing operation, the fluid expanding as it flows andtherebyhaving a considerable cooling effect. Arrangement of the two-stage cylinders as described also affords a desirable balance of pressures in the compressor, one cylinder of each set being under compression at the.-

same time.

Another characteristic of the pump is the cooling effect of the outflowing oil or other liquid upon the pressure pipes, which latter tend toheat up by reason of the successive high compressions of the actuating fluid. By passing the pressure ducts through the discharge duct, therefore, a desirable cooling effect is obtained in those parts of the duct extending into the well which cannot be cooled by air or other normal means. Also, the heat thus taken up by the oil will be of value where the oil contains water in obtaining the required separation of the elements, it being customary in such cases to heat the'oil in tanks so that the water may settle to the bottom.

There may be modifications without departure from the invention, and one such modification I have illustrated in Fig. 11. In this instance, the valves 62 and G3 are replaced by a single three-way valve 80, this being actuated electrically in the manner previously set forth.

I claim:

1. In a pump, the combination of a pair of compressors, a pair of pressure duct-s respectively connected to the intakes of said compressors, and means for connecting the ducts alternately with the discharge ports of both compressors.

2. In a pump, the combination of a pair of compressors, a air of pressure ducts respectively connecte to the intakes of said compressors, ducts connecting each of said pressure ducts with the discharge ports of both compressors, and valve means intermediate said discharge ports and the pressure ducts.

3. In a pump, the combination of a pair of compressors, a pair of pressure ducts respectively connected to the intakes of said compressors, ducts connecting each of said pressure duets with the discharge ports of both compressors, valve means intermediate said discharge ports and the pressure ducts, and means for actuating the valve means to connect first one and then the other of said ducts in alternation with both discharge ports.

4. In a pump, the combination of a pair of pressure ducts with the discharge ports of both compressors, valve means intermediate said discharge ports and the pressure ducts, and means for automatically actuating the valve means to connect first one and then the other of said ducts in alternation with both discharge ports.

5. In a pump, the combination of a pair of compressors, a pair of pressure ducts respectivelyconnected to the intakes of said compressors, ducts connecting each of said pressure duets with the discharge ports of both compressors, valve means intermediate said discharge ports and the pressure ducts,

and pressure controlled means for automatically actuatlng the valvemeans to connect first oneand then the other of said ducts in alternation with both discharge ports.

6. In a pump, the combination of a pair of compressors, a pair of pressure ducts respectively connected to the intakes of said compressors,'ducts connecting each of said pressure ducts with the discharge ports of both compressors, valve means intermediate.

automaticallyactuating the valve means to connect first one and then the other of said ducts in alternation with bothdischarge ports.

8. In a pump, the combination of a pair of compressors, a pair of pressure ducts respectively connected to the intakes of said compressors, ducts connecting each of said pressure duets with the discharge ports of both compressors,-valve means intermediate said discharge ports and the pressure ducts, and electrical means for actuating the valve means to connect first one and then the other of said ducts in alternation with both discharge ports.

I 9. In a pump, the combination of a pair of compressors, a pair of pressure ducts respectively connected to the intakes'of said compressors, ducts connecting each of said pressure ducts with the discharge portsol both compressors, valve means intermediate said discharge ports and the pressure ducts, electrical means for actuating the valve means to connect first one and then the other of said ducts in alternation with the discharge ports of both compressors, and" pressure actuated switch means controlling operationot' said electrical actuating means.

10. In a pump, the combination of a. pair of compressors. a pair of pressure ducts respectively connected to the intakes of said compressors. ducts connecting each of said pressure ducts with the discharge ports of both compressors. valve means intermediate said discharge ports and the pressure ducts, electrical means for actuating the valve means to connect first one and then the other of said ducts" in alternation with the discharge ports of both compressors, and a pair of pressure controlled switches respectively connected to the said ducts and controlling said actuating;..means.

11. In a pump, the combination of a air of compressors, a pressure system inclu ing a pair of pressure ducts connected respectively to the intakes of the compressors, ducts connecting each of said pressure ducts to the discharge ports of both compressors, valve means intermediate said discharge, ports and the pressure ducts, and a normally closed intake, in each of the pressure ducts for replacing actuating fluid lost from said system.

12. The combination in a pump, of a pair of compressors each having a first and second stage cylinder, the d1scharge port of each first stage being connected to the intake port of the second stageof the other including a v compressor, a pressure system pair of pressure pipes connected to the intake ports of the respective first stages, ducts connecting the pressure pipes with the discharge ports of both said second stages, valve means intermediate said second stage discharge ports and the pressure ducts, and means for actuating the valve means to connect first one and then the other of said pressure pipes with both the second stage discharge ports.

13. In a pump, the combination of a pair I of compressors, a pair of pressure ducts respectively connected to the intakes of said compressors, and pressure-actuated means for connecting the ducts alternately with the discharge ports of both compressors.

leLIn a pump, the combination of compressor mechanism, a pair of pressure ducts connected on the suction side of said mechanism, duct-s connecting both of said pressure ducts with the discharge side of said compressor mechanism, and pressureactuated valve means for controlling said ducts.

second stage discharge of both compressors.

16. In a pump, the combination of a pair of compressors, a pair of pressure. ducts operatively connected with said compressors, means including a valve-controlled bypass between said pressure ducts, and means connecting said bypass with the discharge ports of both compressors for rendering said compressors successively operative with respect to said pressure ducts.

17. In a pump, the combination of a pair of compressors each comprising a plurality of stages, a pair of compressor. units each comprising a plurality of stages, a pair of pressure ducts connected respectively to the first stake intakes of said units, means for connecting each of the lower stage discharge portswith'the intakes of the next higher stage of the other unit, and means for connecting the said pressure ducts alternately with the discharge ports of the highest stage of both compressors.

JOHN LIMING, JR. 

